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ScienceQuiet 7d · day 9

Researchers recover 500-year-old smallpox DNA from Chilean mummies

Ancient variola virus fragments found in Indigenous remains provide first molecular evidence of the disease in the Americas.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 8d ago9 pieces6 likes & upvotes MastodonNewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Researchers recovered fragmented ancient smallpox DNA from two Indigenous mummies in Chile dated 1492–1631, the first such genomes found in the Americas, providing molecular evidence that the disease arrived following European contact.
  • The study reconstructed two complete viral genomes computationally from degraded DNA fragments, but no intact virus particles or infectious material was recovered or created.
  • The mummified remains also bore skin lesions previously attributed to chronic arsenic exposure, but smallpox infection is now confirmed as an alternative explanation; the cause of death remains unclear.
  • Live variola virus is officially retained only in two high-security WHO-designated laboratories for approved research; the ancient fragments and computational reconstruction create no new biosecurity risk.

“A poxvirus particle contains an intact genome, together with proteins and enzymes that it needs to begin reproducing inside a cell. The ancient fragments lack this viral machinery, so cannot spontaneously cause smallpox.”

The Conversation Africa · AllAfrica ↗

Bernardo Arriaza Bioarchaeologist and study co-authorWorld Health Organization (WHO) Global health authorityResearchers (unnamed) Study authors

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in two hours at Sep 15, 4 AM; 9 pieces over 9 days (7 articles · 2 posts) Sep 15, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 15, 4 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 15, 6 AM — quietSep 15, 8 AM — quietSep 15, 10 AM — quietSep 15, 12 PM — quietSep 15, 2 PM — quietSep 15, 4 PM — quietSep 15, 6 PM — quietSep 15, 8 PM — quietSep 15, 10 PM — quietSep 16, 12 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Google News 2, Newswires 1Sep 16, 2 AM — quietSep 16, 4 AM — quietSep 16, 6 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 16, 8 AM — quietSep 16, 10 AM — quietSep 16, 12 PM — quietSep 16, 2 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 6 PM — quietSep 16, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 12 AM — quietSep 17, 2 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 6 AM — quietSep 17, 8 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 12 PM — quietSep 17, 2 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 6 PM — quietSep 17, 8 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 12 AM — quietSep 18, 2 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 6 AM — quietSep 18, 8 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 12 PM — quietSep 18, 2 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 6 PM — quietSep 18, 8 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 12 AM — quietSep 19, 2 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 6 AM — quietSep 19, 8 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 12 PM — quietSep 19, 2 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 6 PM — quietSep 19, 8 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 12 AM — quietSep 20, 2 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 6 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quiet 1–2
Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 5:46 AM ET
  1. 1

    Study confirms smallpox reached Americas via European contact

    The recovered DNA reveals that Chilean viruses were related to strains previously found in Europe, providing direct molecular evidence supporting historical records that smallpox arrived following European contact. However, the study cannot identify who carried the virus or how it reached the community.

    1. 1 outlet Africa: Can an Ancient Virus Be Brought Back to Life? What 500-Year-Old Smallpox DNA Reveals

      first by AllAfrica, 8d ago

  2. 2

    Ancient smallpox genomes recovered from Chilean mummies

    Researchers announce the recovery of fragmented variola virus DNA from naturally mummified remains of two Indigenous people buried in northern Chile dated to approximately 1492–1631. These are the first ancient smallpox genomes recovered from the Americas. The researchers computationally reconstructed two genomes from degraded DNA fragments but recovered no intact virus particles.

    “The material found in Chile consists only of damaged genetic fragments preserved for centuries.”
    — The Conversation Africa
  3. background

    Researchers assemble horsepox virus from synthetic DNA — Scientists demonstrate the technical feasibility of reconstructing a poxvirus in the laboratory using purpose-made synthetic DNA and specialized procedures, raising questions about deliberate virus reconstruction.

  4. background

    WHO declares smallpox eradicated — The World Health Organization officially declares smallpox the only human infectious disease to have been eradicated worldwide.

  5. background

    Last naturally acquired smallpox case occurs in Somalia — The final case of naturally transmitted smallpox is recorded in Somalia, leading to the declaration of eradication three years later.

  6. background

    WHO launches intensified smallpox eradication programme — The World Health Organization begins a campaign combining vaccination with surveillance and containment to eliminate smallpox worldwide.

  7. background

    First documented smallpox outbreak in the Americas occurs on Hispaniola — Smallpox arrived in the Americas following European contact, beginning with an outbreak on the island of Hispaniola in 1518. During the 16th century, successive smallpox epidemics became a major contributor to the catastrophic loss of Indigenous life.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 3 outlets Can ancient virus be brought back to life? What 500-year-old smallpox DNA reveals | Hindustan Times

    first by Hindustan Times, 8d ago · also Press Trust of India, The Shillong Times

    2 more headlines